Gerrit Cole Pick Off Move Much Less Effective Without First Baseman to Catch Baseball

Gerrit Cole gave up 2 runs on 4 hits on the Pirates loss to the Tigers on Thursday. With two outs and Justin Upton on with a full count in the top of the 4th, Cole threw over to first. Whether he was trying to pick off Upton or just keep him close, first baseman John Jaso and his dreads had already left the bag.

Upton advanced to third on the play. (You can watch it in its confusing entirety on MLB.com.) Cole walked J.D. Martinez on the next pitch and then gave up a two-run double to Nick Castellanos.